Support for mounting outboard motor



March 29, 1966 c. A. HANSON 3,

SUPPORT FOR MOUNTING OUTBOARD MOTOR Filed Aug. 24, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. CHRIS A. HHNJON March 29, 1966 c. A. HANSON SUPPORT FOR MOUNTING OUTBOARD MOTOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 24, 1964 A 8 HM 7 INVENTOR.

CHRIS H. Hmvsou HTTYS.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 C. A. HANSON SUPPORT FOR MOUNTING OUTBOARD MOTOR I Mw wfl/ March 29, 1966 Filed Aug. 24, 1964 L uy %r////////Q YNVENTOR.

CHRIS HRH-SON [7 TTYS.

United States Patent 3,242,899 SUPPORT FOR MOUNTING OUTBOARD MOTOR Chris A. Hanson, 911 Poplar St., Sandpoint, Idaho Filed Aug. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 391,407 2 Claims. (Cl. 115-41) I This invention rel-ates to a novel support for mounting an outboard motor on a boat transom.

There are many instances today when the users of boats desire an outboard motor to be mounted on the boat transom for elevational adjustment relative to the transom during normal use of the motor. One common situation where this need arise is encountered by owners of inboard powered boats who desire the use of a small auxiliary outboard motor for trolling purposes while fishing. The outboard motor must be located to the side of the inboard propeller, and should preferably be raised from the water during normal use of the inboard power drive. However, present mounting arrangements do not facilitate the easy utilization of an out-board motor in such a situation.

The present invention contemplates a simple mounting arrangement providing elevational adjustment of an outboard motor relative to the transom on which it is carried. The apparatus utilizes a supporting frame, fixed on the transom and readily detachable therefrom, which slidably carries an auxiliary transom on which the motor itself is to be clamped. The auxiliary transom is vertically adjustable relative to the boat hull and transom, and is preferably operated by means of a worm driven winch which will not reverse due to forces exerted on the auxiliary transom. In this way, the position of the auxiliary transom can be positively fixed simply by repositioning the winch apparatus.

It is a first object of this invention to provide such a mounting that can be economically manufactured and which requires a minimum number of specially cast parts.

Another object of this invention is to provide such an arrangement wherein the actual operating member, the winch, can be located at any desired position within the boat or on the transom itself.

Another object of this invention is to provide such an arrangement wherein the auxiliary transom can be vertically adjusted from within the boat, eliminating the necessity of leaning out over the transom to manipulate the mot-or mountings.

Another object of this invention is to provide such an apparatus that is self-lubricating, and which will require a minimum amount of maintenance in order to maintain the mounting for proper operational use.

These and other objects will be evident from a study of the following disclosure taken together with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate only one preferred embodiment of the invention. It is to be understood that other specific forms of the invention might be utilized, and the disclosure shown in the drawings is intended only as an example of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of a boat hull and transom provided with the instant invention, a portion of the supporting rod and transom being broken away to show the pulley and Winch apparatus;

FIGURE 2 is a rear view of the transom and support for mounting an outboard motor as shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged top sectional view taken along line 44 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view through a guide rod and collar as seen along line 55 in FIGURE 4; and

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FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the apparatus as seen along line 66 in FIGURE 3.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated a preferred form of the invention as it would appear when mounted in a typical boat installation. The rear end of the boat hull 10 is shown fragmentarily, and includes an upright rear transom 12. The boat might normally be equipped for outboard usage or might be powered by an inboard power plant. In either case, it might be advisable or desirable to utilize a small auxiliary outboard motor for purposes of trolling or for emergency use. The motor support to be described provides a readily usable and elevationally adjustable support for such a motor.

Mounted on the outer surface of the transom 12 above the water line of the hull 10 are two brackets 13 which are basically similar to one another and facing toward each other as shown in the drawings. Each bracket 13 is fastened to the hul-l 10 by means of releasable bolts 14 having enlarged transverse heads 15 and respectively secured by an inside nut 16. The enlarged heads 15 are complementary to upright slots 19 formed in the brackets 13, so that the brackets 13 can be easily released by loosening the respective nuts 16, turning the bolts 14 from within the boat, and pulling the brackets 13 from the transom 12 by bringing the respective slots 19 over the transverse heads 15. In this manner, the brackets 13 can be secured to the transom 12 or removed therefrom without manipulating the holding bolts from outside of the boat itself. Each bracket 13 includes a pair of transversely spaced sockets 17 opened at one end and facing vertically aligned corresponding sockets 17 in the remaining bracket 13.

Mounted within the respective pairs of vertically aligned sockets 17 are two cylindrical tubular guide rods 18. The guide rods 18 are located parallel to one another and parallel to the outer transom surface of the transom 12. They slidably carry an auxiliary transom generally designated by the numeral 20. The auxiliary transom 20 is slidably mounted on the guide rods 18 for movement in a direction parallel to transom 12 and also parallel to the longitudinal axes of the rods 18.

Auxiliary transom 20 is fabricated from three basic components. At each side it comprises a east side member 21 having upper and lower collars 22 that receive the guide rods 18 for slidable movement relative thereto. The side members 21 are rigidly fastened to one another by means of a connecting brace 23 and also by means of the angularly located wooden motor support 24 on which the outboard motor is fastened in the normal manner.

The auxiliary transom 20 is adapted to be moved up wardly or downwardly by means of a cable 25 having an upper connection to the brace 23 at 26 and a lower connection at a releasable pulley 27. Pulley 27 is selectively locked in place by nut 28 in order to provide proper tension in the cable 25 for accurate placement of the auxiliary transom 20 by the operating mechanism.

The cable 25 is preferably an endless cable having its intermediate portion secured to a drum 30 rotatably mounted on the boat hull 10. One manner in which this can be done is by passing the cable 25 through drum 30 and wrapping it several turns in each direction about the periphery of the drum 30. Thus, as the drum 30 is turned in either direction, one end of the cable 25 will be let out while the other is wound on the drum 30.

Drum 30 is preferably turned by a worm gear winch 31, although any other desired type of operating member could be substituted in its place. The winch 31 is operated by means of a manual handle 32, which could obviously be replaced by an electrical motor or other power device. As shown, the handle 32 is releasable so that it does not project in the way of the occupants of the boat at all'times. The advantage of a Worm gear winch is that it is irreversible by tension on the cable 25, and automatically serves to lock the auxiliary transom 20 in the desired location to which it has been moved. If desired, a more positive type of winch can be utilized, and it also must be understood that the location of the winch 31 and drum 30 is not critical to this invention.

The cable 25 passes through the transom 12 and is guided by a socket formed through upper bracket 13. Both ends of the cable 25 pass over upper pulleys 34 mounted on the upper bracket 13. The lower end of the cable 25 passes under a lower pulley 35 rotatably carried on the lower bracket 13 so that tension on the lower end of the cable 25 will pull the auxiliary transom 20 downwardly, while tension on the upper end of the cable 25 will pull the auxiliary transom 20 upwardly. By utilizing additional guiding pulleys along the boat hull 10, the winch 31 and drum 3% can be located at the front of the boat, along its side, or directly on the transom 12 itself. In any case, the device will operate in precisely the same manner.

In order to facilitate the sliding movement of the auxiliary transom 20 on the guide rods 18, the upper collars 22 of the side members 21 are preferably provided with self-lubricating felt rings 36 indented within a socket formed in the respective collars 22 (see FIGURE The felt rings 36 are held in place by a threaded retaining ring 37, and are preferably oiled at periodic intervals. Therefore, as the auxiliary transom 20 is moved upwardly and downwardly relative to the fixed guide rods 18, the felt rings 36 will spread a film of oil on the guide rods 18 and assist in maintaining the proper sliding relationship.

Although the winch 31 is preferably not reversible by the load being operated, it is advisable to provide a fixed stop 38 on each of the guide rods 18 at the normal operating elevation of the motor being carried on the auxiliary transom 20. The stops 38 are slidable relative to the guide rods 18 and are fixed in place by locking screws. In this manner, it is impossible for vibration to cause the transom 20 to move downwardly during normal use of the auxiliary motor mounted thereon.

Many minor modifications might be evident to one skilled in the art without deviating from the basic COIIe cepts of this invention. Primarily, the invention provides an auxiliary transom that is readily mounted on the transom 12 of any boat, the guide rods 18 being secured by means of the supporting brackets 13 and slidably carrying auxiliary transom 20. An auxiliary outboard motor can be carried on the transom 20 in the normal fashion, and can be elevated from the water when not in use. Elevating the motor is also desirable for repair or adjustment purposes particularly on larger boats with a rather deep transom 12. When the motor is desired for use, it can be lowered so that the auxiliary transom 20 rests on the adjustable stops 38, all movement of the motor being controlled from within the boat. It is not necessary for one to dangerously lean out over the transom 12 in order to effect such adjustment.

Since many changes might be made in the design of the apparatus without deviating from the intended scope of this invention, only the following claims are intended to restrict and define my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A support for mounting an outboard motor on a boat hull, including a rear transom comprising:

a pair of identical brackets releasably mounted in vertically aligned spaced locations facing one another on the outer surface of a boat transom;

a pair of transversely spaced upright guide rods fixed between said brackets;

an auxiliary transom member slidably mounted on said guide rods for elevational adjustment parallel thereto; and

a winch mounted on the boat hull having a cable entrained thereon operatively connected to the upper and lower ends of said auxiliary transom member adapted to selectively position said transom member relative to said guide rods.

2. A support for mounting an outboard motor on a boat hull having a rear upright transom, comprising:

a pair of identical brackets mounted on the outer transom surface above the normal water line, said brackets each including transversely spaced sockets open at one end and facing the corresponding socket of the remaining bracket in parallel aligned positions;

a pair of guide rods mounted between said brackets with the ends thereof received within said sockets;

an auxiliary transom member provided with integral collars respectively encircling said rods for sliding movement along the length thereof;

a drum rotatably mounted on said hull;

a cable having respective ends thereof fixed to the auxiliary transom member and being wrapped intermediate its ends upon said drum;

upper and lower pulley guides on said hull engaged by the respective ends of said cable so that pulling of one cable end raises the transom member and pulling of the other end lowers the transom member;

and a worm gear driven winch means operatively connected to said drum adapted to selectively rotate said drum to thereby raise or lower said transom member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,716,960 9/1955 McCumber l1541 FOREIGN PATENTS 278,544- 10/ 1927 Great Britain.

MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

ANDREW H. FARRELL, Examiner. 

1. A SUPPORT FOR MOUNTING AN OUTBOARD MOTOR ON A BOAT HULL, INCLUDING A REAR TRANSOM COMPRISING: A PAIR OF IDENTICAL BRACKETS RELEASABLY MOUNTED IN VERTICALLY ALIGNED SPACED LOCATIONS FACING ONE ANOTHER ON THE OUTER SURFACE OF A BOAT TRANSOM; A PAIR OF TRANSVERSELY SPACED UPRIGHT GUIDE RODS FIXED BETWEEN SAID BRACKETS; AN AUXILIARY TRANSOM SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID GUIDE RODS FOR ELEVATIONAL ADJUSTMENT PARALLEL THERETO; AND A WINCH MOUNTED ON THE BOAT HULL HAVING A CABLE ENTRAINED THEREON OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE UPPER AND LOWER ENDS OF SAID AUXILIARY TRANSOM MEMBER ADAPTED TO SELECTIVELY POSITION SAID TRANSOM MEMBER RELATIVE TO SAID GUIDE RODS. 